Name

CORE Survival

Legal name

CORE Survival, Inc.

Website

https://coresurvival.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tactical Lighting Equipment

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems (IMABAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics (IMABAGAJ)

Keywords

• Helmet-mounted tactical lighting
• Identification friend or foe devices
• Military marker lights
• Law enforcement tactical lighting
• Airborne jump light systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tactical Lighting Hardware Sales: Direct sales of multi-function LED helmet lights, marker lights, IFF devices, and accessories to military, law enforcement, and rescue organizations. One-time hardware purchase model with optional accessories and replacement parts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CORE Survival designs, manufactures, and sells helmet-mounted multi-function LED tactical lights, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) devices, and airborne/parachute lighting systems for military special operations, law enforcement tactical units, and rescue operators. Its flagship HEL-STAR product line offers programmable visible, infrared, and SWIR illumination, with the HEL-STAR F² and DTA providing active IFF sensing and threat alerting capabilities. Products are built in Clearwater, Florida with waterproof, dustproof, and combat-proven durability standards.

Product overview

CORE Survival is a tactical lighting company that manufactures helmet-mounted and personnel marker lights primarily for military, law enforcement, and rescue operations. Their core product line is the HEL-STAR® series of multi-function LED lights, which includes the HEL-STAR 6 (flagship 4-function model), HEL-STAR 5 EXO (3-function), and HEL-STAR 4 EXO (2-function) variants. The portfolio extends to specialized military models including the HEL-STAR F² with IFF capabilities, Designator Threat Alert (DTA), and SWIR variants. For law enforcement, they offer the LE Tactical version. The ecosystem is supported by airborne/military accessories including the ACL Airborne Caution Light, DZM Drop Zone Marker, LSM slider-mounted lights, JPL Portable Jump Light Kit, and DZSO Kit. A Program Interface Module (PIM) enables field reprogramming. Products are designed, manufactured, and made in Clearwater, Florida.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HEL-STAR: Primary product line of multi-function helmet-mounted LED lights for military, law enforcement, and rescue operations. Includes HEL-STAR 4 EXO, HEL-STAR 5 EXO, HEL-STAR 6, HEL-STAR F2 IFF device, and specialized variants.
• ACL
• ACL-500

Products and services

• HEL-STAR 6 Multi-Function Light Multi-function helmet-mounted LED light designed for airborne/MFF, tactical, and military operations. Features four user-defined functions with omni-directional visibility, waterproof to 130 ft, and field reprogramming capability via the PIM. Targeted at military special operations, law enforcement tactical units, and rescue operators.
• HEL-STAR 5 EXO Three-Function Marker Light Three-function tactical light designed for MFF/Airborne applications, tactical operations, search and rescue, K-9, and confined space use. Waterproof to 66 ft with the EXO chassis design. Targeted at military airborne units, K-9 handlers, SAR teams, and law enforcement tactical operators.
• HEL-STAR 4 EXO Two-Function Marker Light Two-function tactical light designed for MFF/Airborne applications, tactical operations, search and rescue, K-9, and confined space operations. Built on the waterproof EXO chassis. Targeted at military airborne units, K-9 handlers, SAR teams, and law enforcement operators.
• HEL-STAR 6 LE Tactical Multi-function helmet-mounted LED light designed specifically for police and specialized law enforcement tactical units. Features two visible and two IR modes for personnel marking under night vision. Targeted at SWAT teams and specialized law enforcement tactical operations.
• HEL-STAR F² Identification Friend or Foe Combines multi-function helmet-mounted personnel marking with advanced Identification Friend or Foe capabilities. Features Active Response that flashes IR when hit by a weapon-mounted laser/flood light and vibrates to alert the wearer. Targeted at military special operations forces conducting night and tactical operations.
• HEL-STAR Designator Threat Alert (DTA) Combines features of HEL-STAR 6 Gen III+ and HEL-STAR F² including Active IFF Sense & Alert. Sends an alert when lased by enemy equipment. Targeted at military special operations forces requiring threat detection in addition to personnel marking and IFF.
• HEL-STAR 6 SWIR Offers all features of HEL-STAR 6 plus two independent IR wavelengths including three SWIR (Short Wave Infrared) options. Targeted at military and special operations units requiring multi-spectrum infrared identification capabilities.
• HEL-STAR Rail Strobe Rail-mounted strobe light designed for helmet applications with rail mounting systems. Targeted at military and tactical helmet users requiring rail-compatible marking and signaling.
• HEL-STAR Lead Jumper Light Helmet-mounted light designed to mark the lead jumper during parachute operations. Equipped with Ultrabright IRs and features Morse code function with unique flash patterns of dots and dashes for identification at distance. Targeted at military airborne units and paratroopers.
• ACL Airborne Caution Light Light module displaying three colors (red, amber, green) that correspond with various jump commands: red tells jumpers to hold, amber means 30 seconds out, and green means go. Targeted at jumpmasters and military airborne operations.
• DZM Drop Zone Marker & Wind Direction Indicator Landing aid developed for parachute operations at night. Illuminates automatically upon deployment and descends rapidly to the drop zone, also functioning as a wind direction indicator. Targeted at military airborne units conducting night parachute operations.
• LSM Lighting System (Parachute Slider Mounted) Parachute slider-mounted lighting system designed to provide visual marking of parachutists or aerial loads for collision avoidance and/or tracking during both training and tactical operations. Targeted at military airborne and parachute operations.
• JPL Portable Jump Light Kit Wireless, RF-controlled portable jump light system designed for use on aircraft not already equipped with jump lights, or as a back-up to existing jump light systems. Targeted at military airborne units operating from varied aircraft.
• DZSO Drop Zone Safety Officer Kit Portable, wireless, lightweight controller with IR/white light module and amber light module with additional accessories for drop zone safety operations. Targeted at drop zone safety officers and military airborne operations personnel.
• PIM Program Interface Module Programming interface module enabling field reprogramming of HEL-STAR lights for user customization including colors, flash patterns, and intensity levels. Targeted at end users of HEL-STAR products requiring custom configurations without factory service.

Quantifiable outcome

• NTOA Member Tested and Recommended
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Combat Defense Systems (CDS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCombat Defense Systems serves as the exclusive distributor for ACL-500 Airborne Caution Light and DZSO Drop Zone Safety Operator Light products. Founded by Chad Haver, CDS provides specialized airborne training equipment that integrates CORE's lighting technology.
• Level Peaks AssociatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based international distributor for CORE Survival products, providing distribution coverage for the United Kingdom market.
• Licentia ArmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor of CORE's helmet strobe and lighting devices. Serves commercial enthusiasts, hunters, law enforcement, and government clients. Provides education and support for night vision product applications.
• HRT Tactical GearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHRT Tactical Gear collaborates with CORE Survival, using HEL-STAR lights during product testing and training scenarios. Their team of LE and military background professionals provides product feedback and market representation.
• Emerging Tactical Solutions (ETS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Pat Hickcox (retired Maricopa County Sheriff's Office), ETS provides NVG operator training courses and is a key training partner. Pat Hickcox developed the NTOA NVG tactical curriculum and CORE products are featured in their training programs.
• First SpearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Spear partners with CORE for range day events at SHOT Show, demonstrating HEL-STAR products alongside First Spear's tactical gear.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wilcox Industries:
• Ops-Core (Gentex Corporation): Ops-Core, a Gentex company, is a dominant supplier of advanced tactical helmets, helmet accessories, and integrated ARC-rail mounted lighting/battery systems for SOF and LE. Overlaps CORE in the ecosystem of helmet-mounted accessories, though CORE's lights sit on top of (rather than compete with) Ops-Core helmet platforms.

Direct peers

• SureFire, LLC: SureFire is a leading U.S. manufacturer of high-performance tactical flashlights, weapon-mounted lights, and helmet lights widely adopted by U.S. military and law enforcement. Direct overlap with CORE in helmet- and weapon-mounted tactical lighting for SOF, SWAT, and general-purpose operators.
• Streamlight: Streamlight produces a broad portfolio of tactical, weapon-mounted, and right-angle LED lights used extensively by military, law enforcement, and rescue markets. Comparable to CORE in supplying rugged, multi-function helmet and person-mounted lighting for SOF, fire/rescue, and SWAT use cases.
• Princeton Tec: Princeton Tec builds tactical, military, and outdoor LED headlamps and marker lights including NVG-compatible models used by U.S. military and first responders. Directly comparable to CORE's HEL-STAR EXO and K9 marker lights in rugged, mission-critical person-mounted lighting.
• Petzl: Petzl is a global leader in headlamps and helmet-mounted lighting for military, rescue, and technical operations, including IR/NVG-capable tactical lights. Comparable to CORE across military free-fall, pararescue, ski patrol, and confined-space rescue applications.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coresurvival
• Facebookfacebook.com/CORE.Survival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/core-survival-inc-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CORE Survival